2. amps-preamps
  3. 1154037172

Can I expect to pay full retail for a new system?

In six months I plan to make some major purchases of new equipment that are each in the $10k range or above. Do dealers discount this kind of stuff? I want to do my homework before I venture into a store.

Krell, Audio Research, Magepan ect., When these mfgs show a retail price of say, $10k, is that what the dealer will stick to? On a $10k listed product, is there an unwritten window of say, $1k that the dealer will reduce his price to? Do dealers generally lower their prices for a sale?

I purchased an Audio Research PH5 a year ago at full price, and at the time, it never occurred to me attempt to negotiate a lower price.

Does audio etiquette allow for initiating a discussion of a lower price with the dealer....or is this uncool.

Your comments will be appreciated...thanks.......mitch
128x128mitch4t
tarsando
578 posts
 
How refreshing it is (really!) to hear from Buyers out there with good advice and experience regarding discounting--rather than the mfgs and reviewers who more often than not say 'don't even ask for a discount'. Thank god for Audiogon!
porziob
316 posts
 
Go shopping on a slow day, & bring CASH. Flash an envelope full, & I think you`ll be pleasantly surprised. Even the "snooty" will drop their pants.
qdrone
889 posts
 
15% to 20% is the norm if you are going to install it yourself BUT if you want them to set it up at you home for optimum sound 15% plus the set up fee is fare. If they want to charge you a set up fee then shoot for 20% off.
sphere
72 posts
 
Except Maggies,for which you will not get more than 20% discount,every other brand will be negotiable upto 30%.If Maggies are your thing, then only do the 1.6 or the 20.1.If you go for the 20.1,use the Gamut audio D230M monoblocks and the D-3 preamp.Audiophile nirvana is what you will achieve.If however you seek an alternative, then use Gamut audio's own L-7 loudspeaker.This will make you happy forever.
tomryan
794 posts
 
Examples:

Purchased $5,000.00 speakers, new, from authorized dealer for $3,900.00.
Purchased $3,200.00 speakers, new from dealer, for $2,400.00.
Purchased $4,500.00 amp, new from dealer, for $3,600.00.
Purchased $1,400.00 subwoofer, new from dealer, for $1,100.00.

I like to buy new if the dealer is willing to happily negotiate. If the dealer grudgingly does so (and let's you know he's unhappy with it) then I probably won't shop there much. I firmly believe that if high end dealers would "deal" more, more new people would be drawn into the hobby. I've introduced a number of people to high end audio, most of whom were completely put off by the high prices and the unwillingness of dealers to "deal". If the dealer would bring up the subject first, once realizing the customer is put off by the price, I think more high end sales would occur.

I recently contacted a local rather large dealer who carries Dynaudio and inquired about the Focus line. He was almost completely dismissive about those speakers and gave me the hard sell about a pair of $4,000.00 Dynaudios that he had as demos. He was willing to knock 15% off them. My opinion was "whoopee!" I should get more than that from a new pair. I did not go back and looked elsewhere.

Also, if you can swing cash, I'll bet the discount will be deeper.
More to discover